Re: 90 shocks/self-locking nuts!!

["James Slusser" <sluss@worldnet.att.net>]

>>At 03:44 PM 2/23/99 -0500, Jim Slusser wrote:
>>>1. The shock (bilstein HD ) is too THIN! There is a huge gap between the
>>>shock and the strut inner surface, compared to stock. The claim is that
>>>it's OK as long as you make sure the shock hits the pit in the bottom of
>>>the strut -- indeed, there is a little pit down there, and then tighten
the
>>>ring nut (the stock one goes, the new fancy one with a seal comes with
the
>>>shock.)
>>
>>Yep - it's thin.  I called Bilstein on this and they say
>>it's normal.  The dimple at the bottom of the strut tube
>>locates it sufficiently.

>i believe my tokicos came with a nylon ring to centrally locate the top end
>of the strut...

>frank

It does seem like a spacer of some sort would be appropriate,
but no.  The gap is on the order of .125" all around the strut insert.
I called Bilstein on this and they say that they do this for
several of the V-dub applications - no spacer.  The dimple holds
it in position at the bottom, and the new (Bilst. supplied) nut/seal
holds it _perfectly_ in allignment up top.

P/N's for the self-locking bolts and nuts:
Bolt:    N-102-065-01     $5.35/ea
Nut:    N-021-191-6        $1.30/ea

Ouch.  According to the parts guy at Autohaus, they apparently
never replace these, and why would I want to do something like
that??? Read the book.

jim slusser
'90 80q: Bilstein HD's